Make-up apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for retrieving and applying make-up is provided. The apparatus includes a housing; a rod member at least partially disposed within the housing and comprising an upper surface; an extendable tip member having a top end and a bottom end, wherein the top end is removably attached to the rod member; and a soft tip attached to the bottom end of the tip member. Preferably, the soft tip is configured to apply make-up to an individual.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a make-up apparatus having extendableand removable tip members for retrieving and applying make-up frommake-up containers, such as the bottom of make-up containers.

BACKGROUND

Make-up may be very expensive. As such, it is important that it is notwasted. Make-up may also be packaged in containers, such as tubes, thatare shaped such that it is difficult to retrieve the contents,especially the contents remaining at the bottom of the tube orcontainer. It is important however, to retrieve the contents of at thebottom of the tube or container due to the cost of make-up. Accordingly,there is a need for an apparatus that is able to retrieve make-up, suchas the remainder of make-up, in a variety of different make-upcontainers and tubes.

SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In some embodiments, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes ahousing; a rod member at least partially disposed within the housing andcomprising an upper surface; an extendable tip member having a top endand a bottom end, wherein the top end is removably attached to the rodmember; and a soft tip attached to the bottom end of the tip member,wherein the soft tip is configured to apply make-up to an individual.The tip member may have a fully actuated position. The fully actuatedposition, measured from the bottom end of the housing to the bottom endof the soft tip, may have a greater length than a length of a containerof make-up that the tip member is configured to retrieve make-up from.

In some embodiments, a method of applying make-up to an individual isprovided. The method includes the steps of providing an apparatus havinga housing; a rod member at least partially disposed within the housingand comprising an upper surface; an extendable tip member having a topend and a bottom end, wherein the top end is removably attacked to therod member; and a soft tip attached to the bottom end of the tip member.Preferably, the soft tip is configured to apply make-up to anindividual.

In some embodiments, a kit is provided. The kit includes an apparatushaving a housing; a rod member at least partially disposed within thehousing and comprising an upper surface; a push member, wherein the pushmember is disposed on the upper surface of the rod member and isconfigured to move a tip member up and down; wherein the housingcomprises an opening for receiving the push member, and wherein the pushmember at least partially protrudes from the opening to an outside. Thekit also includes a plurality of tip members, each tip membercomprising: a top end and a bottom end, wherein the top end isconfigured to be removably attached to the rod member; and wherein thebottom end is attached to a soft tip. The tip member may have a fullyactuated position. The fully actuated position, measured from the bottomend of the housing to the bottom end of the soft tip, may have a greaterlength than a length of a container of make-up that the tip member isconfigured to retrieve make-up from. Additionally, the kit may includeinstructions for use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an apparatus having a push memberand a tip member in a retracted position in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a is an elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showingthe tip member in an actuated position;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the tipmember and a portion of the rod member;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of an apparatus having a push memberand a tip member in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an apparatus in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of thedrawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Definitions

“Configured to,” means adapted for, employed, implemented, orprogrammed, as well as any combination thereof, to carry out someprocess, function, step or routine

“Make-up,” or any grammatical version thereof, refers to cosmetics, suchas, but not limited to, lipstick, powder, and eyeliner; facial or bodycrème, and/or any other beauty product in the form of a liquid, crème,or powder, that is capable of being applied by a brush or a spongeand/or applicator as described herein. “Make-up” as used herein mayrefer to any care substance used to enhance the appearance or odor ofthe human body.

“Left-over make-up” refers to make-up that is situated at the end orbottom of a container or tube. Preferably, it refers to make-up at thebottom of the container or tube that is difficult to retrieve due to theshape of the container or tube and/or due to the shape or length of thetip/applicator.

“Plurality” means “more than one.”

It will be appreciated that terms such as “front,” “back,” “top,”“bottom,” “left,” “right,” “horizontally,” “up,” “down,” “upwardly,”“downwardly,” and “side” used herein are merely for the ease ofdescription and refer to the orientation of the components as shown inthe figures. It is to be understood that any orientation of theapparatus, and the components thereof described herein, is within thescope of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, embodiments of the apparatus of the presentinvention are shown and described. Preferably, the apparatus is used toretrieve make-up from a container having a small amount of make-up left(“left-over” make-up), and to apply that leftover make-up to anindividual. The invention, however, is not limited to retrieving andapplying leftover make-up. It may be used to retrieve and apply make-upfrom the top of the tube or container (i.e., makeup that is not“leftover”). Leftover make-up may be difficult to retrieve using theapplicator that was provided with the original container containing themake-up. For example, lipstick gloss applicators may not be configuredto adequately retrieve the contents at the bottom of the tubes they comewith. These original lipstick applicators may not be long enough toretrieve the leftover make-up at the very end of the tube or container.The present invention provides an apparatus having an extendable and/orremovable soft tip for retrieving this hard-to-retrieve make-up. Theapparatus may be fitted with tip members/soft tips of various shapes andsizes depending on the shape of the container or tube having theleftover (or desired) make-up. Accordingly, the invention provides asingle apparatus for retrieving make-up, such as leftover make-up, fromcontainers and tubes of various shapes and sizes.

As shown in FIG. 1, apparatus 100 includes a housing 102, a rod member104 at least partially disposed within housing 102, and a tip member 106(referred to individually and collectively as “106”) removably attachedto rod member 104.

In some embodiments, housing 102 and rod member 104 are both circular inshape. Preferably, housing 102 includes a sidewall 102 c. If housing 102is circular in shape, it preferably includes a single sidewall 102 c.Preferably, the dimensions of housing 102, (i.e., circumference, ifhousing 102 is circular), are chosen such that it is easily held in anindividual's hand. Further, the dimensions of rod member 104 are chosensuch that rod member 104 is smaller than housing 102, but fits snuglywithin housing 102. In this regard, preferably, rod member 104 makescontact with housing 104 on all sides, and is held in place by housing102, but is also movable within it, as discussed further below. In otherembodiments, housing 102 and/or rod member 104 are not circular inshape, i.e., they may have a square or a rectangular shape. In otherembodiments, rod member 104 may be omitted.

Preferably, and referring to FIG. 1, rod member 104 is from about 1.5inches to about 2.5 inches long (measured from a top end of rod member104 to a bottom end 104 a of rod member 104); and most preferably, about2.0 inches long. Housing 102 may be from about 3.0 to 6.0 inches long(measured from a top end of housing 102 to a bottom end 102 a ofhousing); more preferably, from about 3.5 to about 4.5 inches long; andmost preferably, about 4.25 inches long. In other embodiments, thelength of housing 102 and/or rod member 104 may differ from theforegoing without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In some embodiments, apparatus 100 includes tip member 106. Referring toFIG. 3, preferably, tip member 106 has a top end 106 a and a bottom end106 b. Preferably, top end 106 a is removably attached to rod member 104and bottom end 106 b is attached to a soft tip 108. The dimensions oftip member 106 are chosen such that it can at least partially fit withinhousing 102. Preferably, tip member 106 is circular in shape. In otherembodiments, tip member 106 is omitted and/or of any other shape. In yetother embodiments, tip member 106 is removably attached to soft tip 108.

Preferably, and referring to FIG. 2, the length from top end 106 a tobottom end 106 b of tip member 106 is from about 0.5 inches to about 3.0inches; more preferably, from about 0.75 inches to about 2.0 inches; andmost preferably, about 1.0 inches. In other embodiments, the length oftip member 106 may be less than about 0.5 inches or greater than about3.0 inches.

Preferably, soft tip 108 is configured to apply make-up and is reusable.It is to be understood that tip member 106 may be provided in anyshape/size and soft tip 108 may be provided in any shape/size. The formof soft tip 108 may be determined by the type of make-up it isconfigured to retrieve and apply. For example, soft tip 108 may be asponge, brush, foundation brush, powder brush, eye shadow brush, lipgloss applicator, bronzer brush, blush brush, mascara brush, and thelike. In some embodiments, soft tip 108 may have a length (from a bottomend 106 b of tip member 106 to a bottom end 108 a of soft tip 108) ofabout 0.1 to about 2.0 inches; and most preferably, about 0.25 inches.In some embodiments, tip member 106 is pushed down to expose soft tip108 to an extent necessary to retrieve leftover make-up from acontainer. After retrieval, soft tip 108 may be used to apply theleftover make-up to an individual. In other embodiments, soft tip 108may have a length of less than about 0.1 inches, or greater than about2.0 inches.

In some embodiments, and referring to FIG. 3, tip member 106 and rodmember 104 are removably attached to each other via threaded portions106 c and 104 c (disposed on tip member 106 and rod member 104,respectively). In this manner, one tip member 106 may be removed fromrod member 104 and replaced with another tip member 106 (i.e., anothertip member 106 of another size or having another soft tip 108). Threadedportion 104 c may be disposed on an inner surface of rod member 104, andthreaded portion 106 c may be disposed on an outer surface of tip member106 (or vice versa). In other embodiments, tip member 106 and rod member104 are removably attached via a spring, and/or any other mechanism. Inyet other embodiments, threaded portions 104 c and/or 106 c are omitted.In yet other embodiments, tip member 106 may be removably attached tosoft tip 108. In this regard, threaded portions may be disposed on innerand/or outer surface of tip member and/or inner and/or outer surface ofsoft tip 108 and/or tip member 106 and soft tip 108 may be removablyattached in any other manner.

In some embodiments, and as shown in FIGS. 1-3, apparatus 100 includes apush member 110. Push member 110 may be disposed on, and attached to, anupper surface of rod member 104. Preferably, push member 110 ispartially disposed within housing 102. Furthermore, housing 102 mayinclude an opening 112 disposed on sidewall 102 c of housing 102, andpush member 110 may at least partially protrude from opening 112 to anoutside. It is to be understood that push member 110 may simply be aprotrusion of rod member 104. As such, it may not be a separate element.In other embodiments, push member 110 is omitted.

The present invention may operate in the following manner. Referring toFIG. 1, preferably, push member 110 is slideable from a top portion 112a of opening 112 to a bottom portion 112 b of opening 112. As pushmember 110 slides from top portion 112 a of opening 112 to bottomportion 112 b of opening 112 (and back), it slides rod member 104 withit since it is attached to rod member 104. As rod member 104 slides fromtop portion 112 a of opening 112 to bottom portion 112 b of opening 112,rod member 104 preferably pushes tip member 106 with it, as rod member104 is attached to tip member 106. Preferably, push member 110/rodmember 104 is capable of pushing tip member 106 downwardly from a fullyretracted position to a fully actuated position. Preferably, a continuumof positions exists between the fully retracted position and the fullyactuated position. The extent to which rod member 104 pushes tip member106 down may be adjusted depending on the size (i.e., length) of thecontainer holding the leftover make-up to be retrieved. For example, ifthe container having the left-over make-up is short, then tip member 106may not need to be pushed down as much as when the container having theleft-over make-up is long. In this manner, leftover make-up from variouscontainer sizes may be retrieved using a single apparatus. In a similarfashion, push member 110 may be pulled upwardly. Pulling push member 110up preferably pulls rod member 104 up. As rod member 104 is pulled up,tip member 106 is pulled up. In this manner, tip member 106 may bepulled up from a fully actuated position to a fully retracted position.For example, once the leftover make-up is applied, tip member 106 may bepulled up into housing 102 into a fully retracted position.

In an alternate embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 4, apparatus 200includes housing 202, rod member 204 at least partially disposed withinhousing 202, and a tip member 206 removably attached to rod member 204.Preferably, tip member 206 has a top end 206 a and a bottom end 206 b,wherein top end 206 a is removably attached to rod member 204 and bottomend 206 b is attached to soft tip 208. Preferably, soft tip 208 isconfigured to apply make-up and is reusable. Preferably, tip member 206and rod member 204 are removably attached to each other via threadedportions 204 c and 206 c (not shown), disposed on inner surface of rodmember 204 and outer surface of tip member 206, respectively (or viceversa). In other embodiments, rod member 204 and tip member 206 may beremovably attached to each other via any other means, such as springs.In yet other embodiments, rod member 204 and tip member 206 may not beremovably attached to each other. In this regard, tip member 206 andsoft tip 208 may be removably attached to each other instead (i.e., viathreaded portions).

In some embodiments, and as shown in FIG. 4, apparatus 200 includes apush member 210. Push member 210 may be disposed on, and attached to,top portion 204 a of rod member 204. Furthermore, housing 202 mayinclude an opening 212 (on a top portion of housing 202), and pushmember 210 may at least partially protrude from opening 212 to anoutside. Preferably, push member 210 is attached to (removably orotherwise) a top portion 204 a of rod member 204. Preferably, pushmember 210 is circular. Preferably, push member 210 is of acircumference such that it can snugly fit within opening 212, but suchthat it is pushable/pullable in an up and down manner within opening 212also. As such, it is to be understood that the diameter of push member210 should be just slightly less than the diameter of housing 202(measured from an inner surface of housing 202). In this manner, whenpush member 210 is pushed up and down within housing 202, the outersurface of push member 210 touches inner surface of housing 202 on allsides. Furthermore, the fit between push member 210 and inner surface ofhousing 202 is such that push member 210 does not fall through housing202; rather, it is held in place (but moveable) within housing 202.

As push member 210 is pushed down or pulled up within opening 212, itslides rod member 204 with it since it is attached to rod member 204. Asrod member 204 is pushed down or is pulled up, rod member 204 preferablypushes tip member 206 with it, as rod member 204 is attached to tipmember 206. Preferably, push member 210/rod member 204 is capable ofpushing tip member 206 downwardly from a fully retracted position to afully actuated position. Preferably, a continuum of positions existsbetween the fully retracted position and the fully actuated position.The extent to which rod member 204 pushes tip member 206 down may beadjusted depending on the size (i.e., length) of the container holdingthe leftover make-up to be retrieved. For example, if the containerhaving the left-over make-up is short, then tip member 206 may not bepushed down as much as when the container having the left-over make-upis long. In this manner, leftover make-up from various container sizesmay be retrieved using a single apparatus. In a similar fashion, pushmember 210 may be pulled upwardly. Pulling push member 210 up preferablypulls rod member 204 up. As rod member 204 is pulled up, so is tipmember 206. In this manner, tip member 206 may be pulled up from a fullyactuated position to a fully retracted position. For example, once theleftover make-up is applied, tip member 206 may be pulled up intohousing 202. It is to be understood that push member 210 may be providedin various lengths depending on the length, for example, of tip member206. For example, push member 210 may have a length from about 0.5inches to about 4.0 inches. Additionally, push member 210 may beprovided in various circumferences/diameters depending on, for example,the size of housing 202. In other embodiments, the length of push member210 may be less than about 0.5 inches or greater than about 4.0 incheswithout departing from the scope of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, tip members 106 or 206 may be extended to fullyactuated positions. Preferably, tip members 106 or 206 at leastpartially protrude from housings 102 or 202 (respectively) in the fullyactuated position (the position wherein the tip member is fully extendedand cannot be extended anymore). The length of extension (measured froma bottom end of housing 102 a or 202 a, to a bottom end 108 a or 208 aof soft tip 108 or 208, respectively) in the fully actuated position isfrom about 0.25 inches to about 10.0 inches; more preferably, from about2.0 inches to about 8 inches; and most preferably from about 3.5 inchesto about 6.5 inches. In other embodiments, the length of extension inthe fully actuated position is less than about 0.25 inches or greaterthan about 10.0 inches. The length of extension is preferably controlledby the user and may depend on the length of the container holding theleftover make-up. For example, if the length of the container is long,then the length of extension (in the fully actuated position orotherwise) is preferably longer. Preferably, the length of extensionfrom the fully retracted position to the fully actuated position is acontinuum. In this manner, the user may push down tip members 106 or 206to any length of extension desired. In other embodiments, the user maynot be able to push down tip members 106 or 206 to any length ofextension desired. In this regard, there may be specific, pre-determinedlengths of extension. In this regard, each time the user reaches apre-determined length of extension; rod members 104 or 204 may rest inthat position (the user may be able to hear a click, or the like, whenthe pre-determined length of extension is reached).

In some embodiments, a first tip member (for ease of description,referred to herein as 106 or 206) may be removed and replaced with asecond tip member (for ease of description, also referred to herein as106 or 206) by turning the threaded portions on rod members 104 and 204,and tip members 106 and 206, detaching the first tip member 106 or 206,and replacing it with a second tip member 106 or 206. In this manner,the user can use a single apparatus to apply different types of make-up,by exchanging one tip member 106 or 206 with another. For example, firsttip member 106 or 206 may have soft tip 108 or 208 configured toretrieve and apply lip gloss. Second tip member 106 or 206 may have softtip 108 or 208 configured to retrieve and apply mascara.

In an alternate embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 5, apparatus 300includes housing 302 and a tip member 306 (referred to herein singularlyand collectively as “306”) removably attached to housing 302.Preferably, tip member 306 has a top end 306 a and a bottom end 306 b,wherein top end 306 a is removably attached to housing 302 and bottomend 306 b is attached to soft tip 308. Preferably, soft tip 308 isconfigured to apply make-up and is reusable. Preferably, tip member 306and housing 302 are removably attached to each other via threadedportions 302 c and 306 c, disposed on inner surface of housing 302 andouter surface of tip member 306, respectively (or vice versa). A pushmember and/or a rod member may be omitted in apparatus 300. Instead, theuser may control the length of the apparatus by replacing a tip member306 of one length with another tip member 306 of another length. Inother embodiments, housing 302 and tip member 306 may be removablyattached to each other via any other means, such as springs. In yetother embodiments, housing 302 and tip member 306 may not be removablyattached to each other. In this regard, tip member 306 and soft tip 308may be removably attached to each other instead (i.e., via threadedportions).

The present invention may be provided in the form of a kit. The kit mayinclude apparatus 100, 200 and/or 300, one or more tip members 106, 206,and/or 306, and instructions for use. Tip members 106, 206, and/or 306in various shapes and sizes may be provided. In this regard, more thanone tip member 106, 206, and/or 306 may be provided in a single kit. Assuch, the user may be able to select the appropriate tip member sizesdepending on the size of the container holding the leftover make-up. Forexample, tip members 106, 206 and/or 306 having a smaller diameter(i.e., from about 0.1 inches to about 0.25 inches) and having a largerdiameter (i.e., from about 0.25 inches to about 1.0 inches) may beprovided in a single kit. Additionally, tip members 106, 206, and/or 306may be provided with soft tips 108, 208, and/or 308 having differingshapes and sizes. For example, soft tips 108, 208, and/or 308 configuredto retrieve and apply lipstick, mascara, eyeliner, and/or any other typeof make-up may be provided. As such, the individual may be able topurchase one kit having soft tips configured to retrieve and applydifferent types of make-up. In some embodiments, the kit may include acase for storing tip members. The case may be configured to hold aplurality of tip members in a manner such that the tip members are keptin place when the case is moved or held in an individual's hand. In thisregard, the case may have compartments, or the like, to hold and storethe tip members and/or the apparatus. In other embodiments, tip members106, 206, and/or 306 may have diameters less than about 0.1 inches orgreater than about 1.0 inches, without departing from the scope of thepresent invention. In other embodiments, tip members 106, 206, and/or306 are omitted from the kit.

In some embodiments, a method of retrieving and/or applying make-up isprovided. The method includes the step of providing the apparatus of thepresent invention. In some embodiments, the method includes the step ofproviding more than one tip member 106 or 206. Preferably, each tipmember 106 or 206 has a different soft tip 108 or 208 configured toretrieve and/or apply a different type of make-up. In some embodiments,the method includes the step of attaching tip member 106 or 206 to rodmember 104 or 204. This may include the step of pushing rod member 104or 204 down to expose the threaded portions. Threaded portions 104 c or204 c of rod members 104 or 204 (respectively) may then receive threadedportions 106 c or 206 c of tip members 106 or 206 (respectively). Oncerod members 104 or 204 and tip members 106 and 206 are attached, tipmembers 106 or 206 may be extended to an appropriate length by pushingdown on push member 110 or 210. Thereafter, tip members 106 or 206 maybe inserted into a container having leftover make-up to retrieve theleftover make-up. In some embodiments, the leftover make-up may beapplied to the individual using tip member 106 or 206. At any time, tipmembers 106 or 206 may be retracted within apparatus 100 or 200. If theindividual wants to use apparatus for left-over make-up housed in adifferent type of container, then the individual may detach rod members104 or 204 from a first tip member 106 or 206 and attach a second tipmember 106 or 206 to rod member 104 or 204. In this manner, a singleapparatus can be used to retrieve leftover make-up from various tubes orcontainers.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detailwith reference to certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments arepossible. The steps disclosed for the present methods, for example, arenot intended to be limiting nor are they intended to indicate that eachstep is necessarily essential to the method, but instead are exemplarysteps only. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should not belimited to the description of preferred embodiments contained in thisdisclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a. a housing comprisingat least one sidewall and a top portion; b. a rod member at leastpartially disposed within the housing and comprising an upper surface;c. an extendable tip member having a top end and a bottom end, whereinthe top end is removably attached to the rod member; and d. a soft tipattached to the bottom end of the extendable tip member; wherein thesoft tip is configured to apply make-up to an individual.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, further comprising a push member, wherein the pushmember is disposed on the upper surface of the rod member and isconfigured to move the extendable tip member up and down.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 2, wherein the housing comprises an opening; whereinthe push member at least partially protrudes from the opening to anoutside.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the opening is disposed onthe sidewall of the housing.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein theopening is disposed on the top portion of the housing.
 6. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the rod member and the extendable tip member areremovably attached via a threaded portion disposed on the rod member anda threaded portion disposed on the extendable tip member.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the extendable tip member is extendable toa fully actuated position, and wherein the extendable tip member atleast partially protrudes from the housing to an outside in the fullyactuated position.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the fullyactuated position, measured from a bottom end of the housing to a bottomend of the soft tip, is from about 0.25 inches to about 10.0 inches. 9.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the soft tip is selected from thegroup consisting of sponge, foundation brush, powder brush, eye shadowbrush, lip gloss applicator, bronze brush, and blush brush.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the extendable tip member is reusable. 11.A method of applying make-up to an individual, comprising: a. providingan apparatus comprising a housing; a rod member at least partiallydisposed within the housing and comprising an upper surface; a firstextendable tip member having a top end and a bottom end, wherein the topend is removably attached to the rod member; and a soft tip attached tothe bottom end of the extendable tip member; wherein the soft tip isconfigured to apply make-up to an individual.
 12. The method of claim11, further comprising the step of removing the first extendable tipmember and replacing it with a second extendable tip member.
 13. A kitcomprising: a. an apparatus comprising: i. a housing comprising at leastone sidewall and a top portion; ii. a rod member at least partiallydisposed within the housing and comprising an upper surface; iii. a pushmember, wherein the push member is disposed on the upper surface of therod member and is configured to move a tip member up and down; whereinthe housing comprises an opening, and wherein the push member at leastpartially protrudes from the opening to an outside; and iv. a pluralityof tip members, each tip member comprising:
 1. a top end and a bottomend, wherein the top end is configured to be removably attached to therod member; and wherein the bottom end is attached to a soft tip. 14.The kit of claim 13, wherein the soft tip is selected from the groupconsisting of sponge, foundation brush, powder brush, eye shadow brush,lip gloss applicator, bronze brush, and blush brush.
 15. The kit ofclaim 13, wherein the rod member and the tip member are removablyattached via a threaded portion disposed on the rod member and athreaded portion disposed on the tip member.
 16. The kit of claim 13,wherein each tip member is extendable to a fully actuated position, andwherein each tip member at least partially protrudes from the housing tothe outside in the fully actuated position.
 17. The kit of claim 16,wherein the fully actuated position, measured from a bottom end of thehousing to a bottom end of the soft tip, is from about 0.25 inches toabout 10.0 inches.
 18. The kit of claim 16, wherein the fully actuatedposition, measured from the bottom end of the housing to the bottom endof the soft tip, has a greater length than a length of a container ofmake-up that the tip member is configured to retrieve make-up from. 19.The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the fully actuated position, measuredfrom the bottom end of the housing to the bottom end of the soft tip,has a greater length than a length of a container of make-up that thetip member is configured to retrieve make-up from.